




































« 




THE BEQUEST OF 

DANIEL MURRAY 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 
1925 




































KNOW THE TRUTH! 




STATEMENT FROM ENTIRE COLORED 
DELEGATION OF THE'NATIONAL 
PROGRESSIVE CONVENTION 
CHICAGO, AUG. 7, 1912. 



i - --- — 

I THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE! 











STATEMENT FROM ENTIRE COLORED DELEGATION 

OF THE 

NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE CONVENTION, 
CHICAGO, AUGUST 7, 1912. 


We, the undersigned, being all the colored delegates and 
alternates present at the National Progressive Convention, held 
in Chicago, August 5th, 6th and 7th, 1912, in order to correct 
certain erroneous and misleading statements sent out by the 
press to the country at large, and at the same time, in order 
to urge upon all American citizens the support of the Pro¬ 
gressive Party, do issue the following statement: 

For the first time in the history of the country, colored 
citizens of the North and East have been sitting as delegates 
in a great National Convention, freely participating in every 
function of the same, a privilege heretofore enjoyed only by 
the colored delegates from the South. This recognition and 
participation of the colored delegate forever fixes his status 
as a Charter Member of the Progressive Party—a New Po¬ 
litical Party—which knows- no North, no South, no East, no 
West, no Race, no Creed, no Sex—but only American Citizen¬ 
ship as a party requisite. 

LILY WHITISM. 


By reasons of irregularity and non-compliance with the call 
issued for the State Convention the State of Florida—in which 
were held two conventions, one colored and one white—was 
denied representation upon the floor of the National Conven¬ 
tion. In the State of Mississippi, where two conventions were 
also held, one a mixed convention of colored and white, and 
the other white only, the mixed delegation was denied admis¬ 
sion and the white delegation was seated; the mixed delegation 
admitting that they did not claim the legality of their conven¬ 
tion, because they did not meet in compliance v.-ith the author¬ 
ized call. But, in seating the white delegation, by a vote of 
17 to 16, the Committee on Credentials in their report, con¬ 
demned the action of the Provisional Chairman, who issued his 
call to whites only, in the following language: “We regard 
the Fridge delegates as entitled to seats in this convention, but 
disavow that part of the call contained in the word “White.” 
We approve the position taken in the letter a(k%r esse d to Julian 
Harris, of Georgia, by Theodore —--wnich said report 

of the Committee on Credentials wp^^pr$v£d a Mhd unanimously 

v? ^W on » 0,C * 



f- 

p 

SL. 

adopted by the National Convention, thus putting the National 
Progressive Convention on record against “a white man’s party.” 
On the Committee on Credentials were two colored delegates, 
^Dr. George E. Cannon, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Julius 
L. Mitchell, Attorney-at-Law, of Providence, R. I. 

The charge of “lily-whitism” against the National Progress¬ 
ive Convention is false. Arkansas elected a mixed delegation, 
with five colored delegates, four of whom attended the Conven¬ 
tion; Tennessee sent one, Kentucky one, Maryland two and 
West Virginia two. The charge of “lily-whitism” was made for 
the sole and specific purpose of engendering political strife and 
embarrassment, and with the hope of alienating the colored vote. 
No heed, nor the slightest credence should be given to the num¬ 
berless, unfair, distorted and malicious reports of a hostile press, 
sent out against the National Convention of the Progressive 
Party—a Convention whose genuine enthusiasm, numerical 
strength, high-class delegates, brainy, experienced leaders, chal¬ 
lenge comparison with any similar body ever assembled within 
the annals of our country. 

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. 


The following colored delegates served on the regular com¬ 
mittees : 


Committee on Credentials. 


Julius L. Mitchell, Attorney-at-Law, Providence, R. I. 

Dr. Geo. E. Cannon, Jersey City, New Jersey. 

Permanent Organization. 

Dr. S. G. Elbert, Wilmington, Del. 

Joseph P. Evans, Baltimore, Md. 

Notification. 

Dr. J. R. Wilder, Washington, D. C. 

/. R. Gleed, New York City, seconded the nomination of 
Governor Johnson for Vice-President. 

We hail with sincere rejoicing the advent of the Progressive 
Party and the strong men who are leading the same, seeing in 
them the men and the long sought opportunity, for breaking 
up the unkind and harsh political and civic conditions of the 
South—conditions created by the Democratic Party, and which 
the Republican Party found itself unable to overcome. With 
the coming of the Progressive Party—new men, with new ideas, 
ri new party principles, and new party alignments, will have a 
greater opportunity to awaken the public conscience and bring 
about the long needed reforms so anxiously awaited by the 
*peonle of the South. 

We most heartily welcome the leadership of Theodore 
Roosevelt—a man of courage, convictions and unquestioned in- 

\ 



tegrity; whose great deeds have made him world famous—im¬ 
pulsive, but sincere—quick, but always reliable. 

We hail with highest admiration Governor Johnson, the 
Giant of the West, and we greet with loud acclaim Senator ^ 
Dixon, the magnetic, incomparable political General—a trium¬ 
virate which has done things, and which will yet do greater 
things for the Progressive Party, and all the people of the land. 

POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION. 

To the end that we may help while being helped, that we 
may benefit while being benefited, we urgently call upon every 
colored man, woman and child to join us in a nation-wide popu¬ 
lar subscription to help forward the cause of the Progressive 
Party. Let all give and place the Colored Citizen in the same 
class with the other citizens of the country. Let us act like 
men and women, and we will be treated as men and women. 

For the Progressive Party, 

For ROOSEVELT and JOHNSON. 

Signed: 

J. R. GLEED (broker), New York City. 

JAMES E. CHURCHMAN, Orange, N. J. 

(Rev.) JOHN C. LOVE, Montclair, N. J. 

DR. C. T. BRANCH, Camden, N. J. 

DR. GEO. E. CANNON, Jersey City, N. J. 

(Rev) G. L. P. TALIAFERO, Philadelphia, Pa., editor Chris- 
tion Banner. 

J. W. HOLMES, Attorney-at-Law, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

DR. S. G. ELBERT, Wilmington, Del. 

JULIUS L. MITCHELL, Attorney-at-Law, Providence, R. I. 

JOSEPH P. EVANS, Baltimore, Md. 

L. H. DAVENPORT, Baltimore, Md. 

DR. JAMES R. WILDER, Washington, D. C. 

GEORGE COLLINS, Attorney-at-Law, Washington, D. C. 

J. R. POLLARD. Attorney-at-Law, Richmond, Va. 

JOHN C. GILMER, State Librarian, Charleston, W. Va. 

C. LI. JAMES, Charleston, W. Va. 

W. A. LEWIS, Nashville, Tenn. 

TLIOMAS PEARSON, Attorney-at-Law, Chicago, Ill. 

W. A. BELL, Dayton, O. 

BISHOP J. M. CONNER, Little Rock, Ark. 

DR. H. W. SUGGS, Little Rock, Ark. 

DR. W. E. WATSON, Texarkana, Ark. 

E. T. ALEXANDER, Helena, Arkansas. 

A. H. CABELL, Henderson, Ky. y 










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